Beat Crusaders

BEAT CRUSADERS was a Japanese rock/punk/pop group who were first formed in late 1997 by ?????? (Hidaka Tooru), primarily as an experimental lo-fi indie pop group. The first line-up of the group was originally a result of constant experimental shows performed in various locations around Tokyo. Their use of both old and new technology, combined with influences from various bands such as Weezer and Rentals, had transformed them into a melodic guitar-driven band.

By late 1998, the group had started to settle into things and were rapidly gaining a reputation for being an energetic live band with catchy and fun songs that weren't to be missed within the independent music scene.

The momentum from this carried on with the single "Never Pop Enough E.P." which quickly climbed up the independent CD charts of various shops in Japan. Around a month later, they released their first mini-album "Howling Symphony Of..." which both rapidly climbed the charts and received critical acclaim from the music press. After this, the band started to tour more extensively, thanks to various offers from bands within the Japanese alternative music scene. They then released their second single "Firestarter" which was released in 2000 and then followed it up with the full-length album "All You Can Eat" along with involvement in various compilation albums and split mini-albums with various independent groups while still releasing their own albums and singles.

In August 2003, three of the four original members of BEAT CRUSADERS left the band, leaving behind only Hidaka. He quickly recruited four new members, who form the current line-up of the group. The three members that left went on to form ANITA CHILI PEPPERS. The current line-up of the band is: ?????? (Hidaka Tooru) - Vocal & Guitar, ??????? (Kubota Masahiko) - Bass, ?????? (Kato Taro) - Guitar, ???? (Mashiita, Maseeta) - Drums and ????? (Keitaimo) - Keyboard.

In 2004, the group was finally catapulted into the major-label music scene, thanks to the release of the song "Hit in the USA" which was used as the opening theme for the anime "BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad" and also allowed a number of their songs to be covered in the same anime. They have also had the song "TONIGHT,TONIGHT,TONIGHT" used in the anime "BLEACH" and in 2006 they made their first American appearance, thanks to the song "HEY&times;2 LOOK&times;2" which was used as the opening theme song to the Nicktoons animated series "Kappa Mikey".